Magnetic tumbler switch



Dec. 28, 1965 F. MULLER MAGNETIC TUMBLER SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1962 Dec. 28, 1965 F. MULLER 3, 0

MAGNETIC TUMBLER SWITCH Filed March 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States 3,226,509 MAGNETIC TUMBLER SWITCH Felix lViiiller, Schwenningen (Neckar), Germany, assignor to Klenzle Apparate G.m.b.H., Villingen im Schwarz- Wald, Germany Filed Mar. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 180,558 Claims priority, application Germany, Mar. 18, 1961, K 43,230 Claims. (Cl. 200-113) The present invention relates to a magnetic tumbler switch, and more particularly to an arrangement in which a switch is rapidly moved between open and closed positions by the action of a magnetic element.

Tumbler switches are known in which a switch part is rapidly moved to one or the other of two positions, when moved beyond a dead center position. The movable switch part is biased by a spring which is tensioned until the movable switch part has passed beyond the dead center position whereupon the spring moves the movable switch part to the respective switch position.

Mechanical tumbler switches of this type have the disadvantage that considerable arc formation takes place while the switch is in the dead center position in which the spring produces no contact pressure. Particularly, when a tumbler switch of this type is controlled by a control means to alternatively move to the two switch positions thereof, considerable arc formation takes place if the control means moves slowly and shifts the movable switch part slowly through the dead center position.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage of tumbler switches, and to provide a switch arrangement in which the contact pressure is not reduced at the moment in which a switch is shifted between two positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch arrangement in which the contact pressure of a switch means is greatest directly before the switch opens in a rapid movement.

Another object of the present invention is to use a magnetic element to obtain rapid closing and opening of the switch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement in which the magnetic force of a magnetic element obtains rapid movement of the switch between open and closed positions when a control means is moved between two control positions.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of the invention relates to a switch arrangement which comprises switch means, control means movable between two control positions for shifting the switch means between two switch positions, and a magnetic element for producing a magnetic attraction between the control means and the switch means. When such magnetic attraction takes place, the switch means moves rapidly between the two switch positions when the control means moves between the two control positions. The magnetic element is preferably an oxide magnet which, for example, may contain cobalt oxide and iron oxide powdered and pressed to shape.

The switch means includes a resilient switch part, which preferably carries the magnetic element, and the control means includes a control part which is movable between a control position spaced so far from the magnetic element that the same is incapable of sutficiently attracting it, and another control position close to the magnetic element so that the magnetic force between the magnetic element and the control part is sufficient to rapidly shift the movable switch part. When the control part is moved to its other position, the switch part moves therewith while the contact pressure is increased, until the movable switch part is resiliently tensioned to such an extent as to tear the 3,226,569 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 magnetic element off the control part, whereupon the resilient switch part rapidly moves to its normal position.

A magnetizable member is preferably arranged in the region of the magnetic element, and is adjustable to vary the force of the magnetic field, and thereby the relative position of the elements at which the switch means will be shifted.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention as set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the illustrated embodiment incorporates the magnetic tumbler switch of the invention into an automatic pulse generator which includes a resistor wire 1 connected to a source of electric power by switch means 2. The resistor wire 1 has one end secured to a bracket 3 on a support 4, and the other end secured to one arm 5 of a rocking control lever 6 which is mounted for turning movement on a shaft 7 projecting from support 4. The other arm 8 of control lever 6 is biased by a spring 9 which is connected to a pin on support 4.

When the resistor wire 1 is energized, it expands and permits spring 9 to turn control lever 8 in clockwise direction. This position of the control lever 6 is illustrated. When resistor wire 1 is de-energized, it contracts and turns control lever 6 in counterclockwise direction against the action of spring 9.

The switch means 2 includes an insulator 14 on which two contact springs are mounted. Contact spring 13 has a contact point 14 at one end, and a connector part 15 at the other end which is connected by conductor 22 to one end of resistor wire 1, whose other end is connected to the negative terminal of a battery.

Contact spring 11 has a contact point 12 cooperating with contact point 14, and a connector portion 16 which is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the battery. It is evident that upon engagement between contact points 12 and 14, the resistor wire will be energized, while in the open switch position illustrated in the drawing, resistor wire 1 will be de-energized and begin to contract.

A magnetic element It is mounted on the free end of contact spring 11 and located opposite the arm 8 of control lever 6. The magnetic element 10 is preferably an oxide magnet which has a high coercive force. A resilient abutment member 17 abuts contact spring 11 which tends to assume the illustrated position abutting member 17 so that contact point 12 is separated from contact point 14.

The insulator member 14' is secured by screw 19 to a member 18 which has a magnetizable part 20 consisting of a magnetizable ferromagnetic material and extending parallel to the contact spring 11 into the region of the magnetic element 10. The end portion 21 of magnetizable member 20 may be bent and permanently deformed to be located a selected distance from the magnetic element 10 whereby the magnetic field of the magnetic element 10 is influenced and varied.

The above described switch arrangement operates as follows:

The drawing illustrates the device in a position in which the resistor wire 1 is expanded after having been energized, while the switch part 11 has just returned to the illustrated position in which contact points 14 are spaced so that the circuit of the resistor wire 1 is interrupted. Consequently, the resistor wire 1 contracts and turns control part 6 in counterclockwise direction against the action of spring 9 from the illustrated control position to another control position in which the end of arm 8 is closer to the magnetic element 10. In this closely spaced position, the magnetic force of the magnetic element It acting on the control part 6 is sufficient to overcome the resilient resistance of the resilient switch part 11 so that the magnetic element rapidly moves to a position in contact with arm 8 of control part 6, while contact point 12 engages contact point 14 in a circuit closing position of switch part 11. Contact spring 13 may also be resiliently deformed in this position to assure sufficient contact pressure.

The thus energized and heated resistor wire 1 expands, and permits spring 9 to turn control part 6 in clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing. Since the magnetic element 10 adheres at first to arm 8 and is magnetically coupled thereto, the resilient switch part 11 is further resiliently deformed, and displaces and resiliently deforms the contact spring 13 while the pressure between the contact points 12 and 14 is further increased.

When the resilent resistance of the deformed resilient switch part 11 and of contact spring 13 becomes greater than the magnetic adherence between magnetic element 10 and control part 6, the magnetic element 10 will be separated from control part 6, and resilient switch part 11 will rapidly move to its normal circuit breaking position in which contact point 12 is spaced from contact point 14, as illustrated. This movement will be even more rapid, since the magnetic force acting between magnetic element 10 and control part 6 is substantially reduced in the moment in which the slightest air gap forms between the magnetic element 10 and control part 6.

Since the contact points 12 are separated in this switch position, the resistor wire 1 is de-energized and contracts so that control part 8 is again moved to the control position close to the magnetic element 10 whereby the switch means 11 to 14 is again rapidly moved to its closed switch position. In this manner, the switch means is alternately moved between the closed switch position and the open switch position.

When the magnetizable adjustment member 20, 21 is adjusted to have a different distance from the magnetic element 10, the magnetic field is influenced, and the moment at which the magnetic force is sufficient to close the switch means is changed. If the magnetizable part 21 of the magnetizable adjustment member is closer to the magnetic element 10, magnetic element 10 is later attracted by the control part 6, than if magnetizable part 21 is farther from the magnetic element 10 due to the fact that part of the magnetic field passes through the magnetizable member 20, 21.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the magnetic tumbler switch means 2 of the present invention is actuated by control means 6 which is operated by an expandiing and contracting resistor wire. However, the actuation of the control means 6 may also be effected by other means, for example by a rotary cam acting on control means 6 and rocking the same against the action of spring 23. FIG. 2 of the drawings shows the control means 6, which may be actuated by a cam control means 24 fixed to a rotary shaft 25. In this event, the resistor wire 1 is replaced by the cam control means 24, and the switch means 2 may control another circuit, e.g. the circuit of an electromagnet 26 acting on a stylus lever 27, as shown in FIG. 2. The circuit, which energizes the electromagnet 26 comprises the pulse terminal 28 of a battery, line 29, contacts 12 and 14, line 30, winding 31, line 32 and the minus terminal 34 of the battery. Stylus lever 27 is rotatably mounted on a pin 35 and biased by a spring 36 to turn in counterclockwise direction. One

arm 27' of the stylus lever 27 projects over the two pole shoes 26' and 26" of the electromagnet 26 a small distance, forming an air gap, when the magnet 26 is deenergized. The right hand arm 27" of stylus lever 27 is provided with a stylus 37, which slides over a moving recording carrier (not shown) producing the diagram 38. A pin 39 is provided to arrest the stylus lever 27 in counterclockwise direction, in order to assure always the same air gap between the arm 27' and the pole shoes 26 and 26".

The operation of the switching means 2 as shown in FIG. 2 is the same as described above in connection with FIG. 1. When the contacts 12 and 14 of the switch means are closed, the magnet 26 is energized and the arm 27 of the stylus lever 27 is attracted by the pole shoes 26' and 26", and the stylus 37 is displaced upwardly. When the contacts 12 and 14 open, the winding 31 of the magnet 26 is de-energized and the spring 36 retracts the stylus lever 27 in clockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 2.

In the illustrated embodiments, the magnetic element 10 is shown to be mounted on the switch part 11. It will be understood that the magnetic element 10 may as well be mounted on the arm 8 of the control means 6, and magnetically attract a magnetizable element secured to spring part 11 so that spring part 11 is shifted when control means 6 moves to the control position in which arm 8 is close to the spring part 11.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of switch arrangements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a magnetic tumbler switch rapidly shifted between two switch positions by a control means it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge reatily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic of specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1 A switch arrangement comprising, in combination, switch means including a resilient switch means movable in one direction from a circuit breaking position through an initial circuit closing position into a final circuit closing position and increasing its resilient tension during said movement in said one direction; control means including a control part movable in said one direction from a first control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said initial closing position thereof to a second control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said final circuit closing position thereof; a magnetic element secured to one of said parts and exerting a magnetic force on the other of said parts when said switch part is in said circuit breaking position and said control part is in said first control position thereof so as to move said switch part from said circuit breaking into said initial circuit closing position thereof wherein said two parts magnetically adhere to each other; and means for moving said control part from said first control position to said second control position thereof when said switch part has moved into said initial circuit closing position thereof so as to move said switch part magnetically attached to said control part into said final closing position thereof against the increasing resilient tension of said resilient switch part so that the resilient tension of said switch part is increased to such a degree that said switch part separates from said control part and moves rapidly to said switch breaking position when separating from said control part whereby arc formation is prevented.

2. A switch arrangement comprising, in combination, switch means including a resilient switch part movable in one direction from a circuit breaking position through an initial circuit closing position into a final circuit closing position and increasing its resilient tension during said movement in said one direction; control means including a control part movable in said one direction from a first control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said initial closing position thereof to a second control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said final circuit closing position thereof; a magnetic element secured to one of said parts and exerting a magnetic force on the other of said parts when said switch part is in said circuit breaking position and said control part is in said first control position thereof so as to move said switch apart from said circuit breaking into said initial circuit closing position thereof wherein said two parts magnetically adhere to each other; and means for moving said control part from said first control position to said second control position thereof when said switch part has moved into said initial circuit closing position thereof so as to move said switch part magnetically attached to said control part into said final closing position thereof against the increasing resilient tension of said resilient switch part so that the resilient tension of said switch part is increased to such a degree that said switch part separates from said control part and moves rapidly to said switch breaking position whereby arc formation is prevented, said switch part being magnetically coupled to said control part in said circuit closing position and which the latter moves toward said second control position thereof.

3. A switch arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnetic element is a permanent magnet.

4. A switch arrangement comprising, in combination, switch means including a resilient switch part movable in one direction from a circuit breaking position through an initial circuit closing position into a final circuit closing position and increasing its resilient tension during said movement in said one direction; control means including a control part movable in said one direction from a first control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said initial closing position thereof to a second control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said final circuit closing position thereof; a magnetic element secured to said switch part and exerting a magnetic force on said control part when said switch part is in said circuit breaking position and said control part is in said first control position thereof so as to move said switch part from said circuit breaking into said initial circuit closing position thereof wherein said two parts magnetically adhere to each other; and means for moving said control part from said first control position to said second control position thereof when said switch part has moved into said initial circuit closing position thereof so as to move said switch part magnetically attached to said control part into said final closing position thereof against the increasing resilient tension of said resilient switch part so that the resilient tension of said switch part is increased to such a degree that said switch part separates from said control part and moves rapidly to said switch breaking position whereby are formation is prevented.

5. A switch arrangement comprising, in combination, switch means including a resilient switch part movable in one direction from a circuit breaking position through an initial circuit closing position and beyond the same into a final circuit closing position and increasing its resilient tension during movement in said one direction; control means including a control part movable in said one direction from a first control position close to said switch part in said circuit breaking position and adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said initial closing position thereof to a second control position farther spaced from said circuit breaking position of said switch part and adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said final circuit closing position thereof, said second control position being also spaced in said one direction from said initial circuit closing position of said switch part so that said switch part in said circuit breaking position is farther spaced from said control part in said second control position than in said initial circuit closing position; a magnetic element secured to one of said parts and exerting a magnetic force on the other of said parts when said switch part is in said circuit breaking position and said control part is in said first control position thereof so as to move said switch part from said circuit breaking into said initial circuit closing position thereof wherein said parts magnetically adhere to each other; and means for moving said control part from said first control position to said second control position thereof when said switch part has moved into said initial circuit closing position thereof so as to move said switch part magnetically attached to said control part into said final closing position thereof against the increasing resilient tension of said resilient switch part so that the resilient tension of said switch part is increased to such a degree that said switch part separates from said control part and moves rapidly to said switch breaking position when separating from said control part whereby arc formation is prevented.

6. A switch arrangement comprising, in combination, switch means including a resilient switch member, and a resilient switch part which is movable in one direction from a circuit breaking position through an initial circuit closing position engaging said resilient switch member and with the same into a final circuit closing position increasing the resilient tension of said switch member and switch part during movement in said one direction; control means including a control part movable in said one direction from a first control position close to said switch part in said circuit breaking position to a second control position farther spaced from said circuit breaking position of said switch part, and also spaced in said direction from said initial circuit closing position of said switch part and of said switch member so that said switch part in said circuit breaking position is farther spaced from said control part in said second control position than in said initial circuit closing position; a magnetic element secured to one of said parts and exerting a magnetic force on the other of said parts so that said parts are magnetically attracted when said control means is in said first control position thereof so as to move said resilient switch part from said circuit breaking position to said initial circuit closing position thereof wherein said two parts magnetically adhere to each other; and means for moving said control part from said first control position thereof when said switch part has moved into said initial circuit closing position thereof so as to move said switch part magnetically attached to said control part into said final closing position thereof against the increasing resilient tension of said resilient switch part and said resilient switch member so that the resilient tension of said switch part and of said switch member is increased to such a degree that said switch part separates from said control part and to said switch breaking position when separating from said control part whereby arc formation is prevented.

7. A switch arrangement comprising, in combination, switch means including a resilient switch part movable in one direction from a circuit breaking position through an initial circuit closing position into a final circuit closing position and increasing its resilient tension during said movement in said one direction; control means including a control part movable in said one direction from a first control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said initial closing position thereof to a second control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said final circuit closing thereof; a magnetic element secured to one of said switch parts and exerting a magnetic force on the other of said parts when said switch part is in said circuit breaking position and said control part is in said first control position thereof so as to move said switch part from said circuit breaking into said initial circuit closing position thereof wherein said two parts magnetically adhere to each other; and means for moving said control part from said first control position to said second control position thereof when said switch part has moved into said initial circuit closing position thereof so as to move said switch part magnetically attached to said control part into said final closing position thereof against the increasing resilient tension of said resilient switch part so that the resilient tension of said switch part is increased to such a degree that said switch part separates from said control part and moves rapidly to said switch breaking position whereby are formation is prevented; and an adjustable magnetizable member located in the magnetic field of said magnetic element so that by adjustment of said magnetizable member the magnetic force of said magnetic element is varied.

8. A switch arrangement comprising, in combination, switch means including a resilient switch part movable in one direction from a circuit breaking position through an initial circuit closing position into a final circuit closing position and increasing its resilient tension during said movement in said one direction; control means including a control part movable in said one direction from a first control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said initial closing position thereof to a second control position in which said control part is adapted to engage said switch part when the latter is in said final circuit closing position thereof; a magnetic element secured to one of said parts and exerting a magnetic force on the other of said parts when said switch part is in said circuit breaking position and said control part is in said first control position thereof so as to move said switch part from said circuit breaking into said initial circuit closing position thereof wherein said two parts magnetically adhere to each other; and means for moving said control part from said first control position to said second control position thereof when said switch part has moved into said initial circuit closing position thereof so as to move said switch part magnetically attached to said control part into said final closing position thereof against the increasing resilient tension of said resilient switch part so that the resilient tension of said switch part is increased to such a degree that said switch part separates from said control part and moves rapidly to said switch breaking position whereby are formation is prevented; and an adjustable magnetizable member located in the magnetic field of said magnetic element so that by adjustment of said magnetizable member the magnetic force of said magnetic element is varied, said adjustable magnetizable member being located on the side of said part remote from said control part, and being bendable between a plurality of permanently deformed adjusted positions.

9. A switch arrangement comprising, in combination switch means including a resilient switch part movable in one direction from a circuit breaking position to a circuit closing position and beyond thesame, and increasing its resilient tension during movement in said one direction; control means including a control part movable in said one direction from a first control position close to said switch part in said circuit breaking position to a second control position, spring means urging said control part into said second control position, and a resistor element expanding when energized and contracting when de-energized, said resistor element being connected to said control part to urge the same to said first control position when deenergized and contracting, and being electrically connected to said switch means; circuit means for connecting said resistor element and said switch means to a source of electric power; and a magnetic element secured to one of said parts and exerting a magnetic force on the other of said parts so that said parts are magnetically attracted in said first control position whereby said resilient switch part moves first from said circuit breaking position to said circuit closing position against the increasing resilient tension thereof and is magnetically coupled in said circuit closing position with said control part while the same moves toward said second control position in response to the action of said spring means whereby the resilient tension of said switch part is increased to such a degree that said switch part separates from said control part and moves rapidly to said switch breaking position whereby are formation is prevented and said resistor element is alternately energized and de-energized and said switch means is alternately opened and closed.

10. A switch arrangement as set forth in claim 1 and including electromagnetic means; and a circuit connected to said electromagnetic means and to said switch means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,701 11/1939 Wilson 200-122 2,190,847 2/ 1940 Persons 20067 2,784,275 3/1957 Senn 200-67 2,842,638 7/ 1958 Digirolamo 200'113 2,984,722 9/1958 Smith et al 200 -113 3,011,037 11/1961 Welsh 200-113 3,052,778 9/ 1962 Kathe 200--87 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SWITCH ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, SWITCH MEANS INCLUDING A RESILIENT SWITCH MEANS MOVABLE IN ONE DIRECTION FROM A CIRCUIT BREAKING POSITION THROUGH AN INITIAL CIRCUIT CLOSING POSITION INTO A FINAL CIRCUIT CLOSING POSITION AND INCREASING ITS RESILIENT TENSION DURING SAID MOVEMENT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION; CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A CONTROL PART MOVABLE IN SAID ONE DIRECTION FROM A FIRST CONTROL POSITION IN WHICH SAID CONTROL PART IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SWITCH PART WHEN THE LATTER IS IN SAID INITIAL CLOSING POSITION THEREOF TO A SECOND CONTROL POSITION IN WHICH SAID CONTROL PART IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SWITCH PART WHEN THE LATTER IS IN SAID FIANL CIRCUIT CLOSING POSITION THEREOF; A MAGNETIC ELEMENT SECURED TO ONE OF SAID PARTS AND EXERTING A MAGNETIC FORCE ON THE OTHER OF SAID PARTS WHEN SAID SWITCH PART IS IN SAID CIRCUIT BREAKING POSITION AND SAID CONTROL PART IS IN SAID FIRST CONTROL POSITION THEREOF SO AS TO MOVE SAID SWITCH PART FROM SAID CIRCUIT BREAKING INTO SAID INITIAL CIRCUIT CLOSING POSITION THEREOF WHEREIN SAID TWO PARTSX MAGNETICALLY ADHERE TO EACH OTHER; AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CONTROL PART FROM SAID FIRST CONTROL POSITION TO SAID SECOND CONTROL POSITION THEREOF WHEN SAID SWITCH PART HAS MOVED INTO SAID INITIAL CIRCUIT CLOSING POSITION THEROF SO AS TO MOVE SAID SWITCH PART MAGNETICALLY ATTACHED TO SAID CONTROL PART INTO SAID FINAL CLOSING POSITION THEREOF AGAINST THE INCREASING RESILIENT TENSION OF SAID RESILIENT SWITCH PART SO THAT THE RESILIENT TENSION OF SAID SWITCH PART IS INCREASED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT SAID SWITCH PART SEPARATES FROM SAID CONTROL PART AND MOVES RAPIDLY TO SAID SWITCH BREAKING POSITION WHEN SEPARATING FROM SAID CONTROL PART WHEREBY ARC FORMATION IS PREVENTED. 